My guest is Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Otolaryngology at Stanford School of Medicine. She explains how hearing works and why hearing loss—affecting over 1.5 billion people—impacts people of all ages. We discuss how hearing loss impairs focus and increases the risk of cognitive decline, as well as the role of menopause and other biological milestones in hearing health. We share science-backed protocols to protect your hearing and highlight risks to avoid. And we discuss tinnitus—its causes and treatment options.Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/jT1A1kkThank you to our sponsorsAGZ by AG1: ⁠https://drinkagz.com/hubermanWealthfront*: ⁠https://wealthfront.com/hubermanOur Place: ⁠https://fromourplace.com/hubermanDavid: ⁠https://davidprotein.com/hubermanJoovv: ⁠https://joovv.com/hubermanLMNT: ⁠https://drinklmnt.com/huberman*This experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients of Wealthfront, and there is no guarantee that all clients will have similar experiences. Cash Account is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. The Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) on cash deposits as of September 26, 2025, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to partner banks where they earn the variable‭ APY. Promo terms and FDIC coverage conditions apply. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments are not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.Follow Huberman LabInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlabX: https://twitter.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-hubermanWebsite: https://www.hubermanlab.com Dr. Konstantina StankovicStanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/konstantina-stankovic Stanford Health Care medical profile: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/s/konstantina-stankovic.html Research lab: https://med.stanford.edu/stankovic-lab.html Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0_-hMy8AAAAJ Stanford Head & Neck Surgery Department: https://med.stanford.edu/ohns.html LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/konstantina-stankovic-3a58891b3Timestamps00:00:00 Konstantina Stankovic00:03:27 Hearing Loss, How Hearing Works, Types of Hearing Loss00:10:58 Sound Waves, High vs Low Frequency, Communication, Importance of Hearing00:15:26 Sponsors: Wealthfront & Our Place00:18:40 Sound Projection, Intensity, Speech; Moving Ears; Larger Ears00:22:59 Sounds & Emotionality; Tinnitus00:26:43 Painful Sounds, Hyperacusis, Phonophobia; Memory, Auditory Hallucinations00:32:19 Concerts & Ringing in Ears, Hidden Hearing Loss; Tool: Safe Sound Threshold00:39:15 Concerts & Protecting Hearing, Tools: Ear Plugs, Magnesium Threonate00:43:44 Magnesium Food Sources & Supplements; Migraines & Tinnitus00:47:30 Tinnitus; Hearing Loss, Genetic & Environmental Factors00:53:19 Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & David00:56:04 Individualization; Tinnitus Examination & Treatment, Supplementation?01:04:36 Headphones, Tough vs Tender Ears, Children, Tool: Safe Sound Levels01:09:41 Compounded Damage, Concerts & Hearing Loss, Tool: Ear Plugs01:12:59 Transitioning Environments, Hyperacusis; In-Utero Hearing01:15:56 Dogs & Sea Animals, Sound Pollution01:19:54 Hearing Loss, Dementia & Cognitive Decline; Tool: Slow Speech & Face Listener01:26:26 Sponsor: Joovv01:27:38 Lip Reading; AI-Enhanced Hearing Aids01:30:12 Sleep, Tool: Earplugs; Hearing Yourself Speak, Superior Semicircular Canal Dehiscence01:36:54 Hearing & Balance, Vibrations; Sound Therapy01:42:05 Music, Dance, Hearing & Frequency Map; Cochlear Implants01:48:20 Sponsor: LMNT01:49:52 Hearing & Social-Cognitive Development, Mental Health; Cochlear Implants01:56:07 Men vs Women, Estrogen; Hearing Loss, Environment, NSAIDs02:01:52 Environmental Toxins, Heavy Metals, Plastics; Tool: Heating Plastic02:06:39 Tool: Avoid Regular NSAIDs Use; Birds & Hair Cell Regeneration; Cancer02:12:05 Head & Neck, Lymphatic System & Surgery02:14:44 Adult Auditory Plasticity, Music & Language02:17:37 Splitting of Senses, Podcasts, AI & Human Progress02:22:20 Prevent Hearing Loss & Recap02:25:09 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network NewsletterDisclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer